Category: Home Page

By Monte Ephraim The LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton Health Care My Story When I joined the LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton Health Care in Baltimore in 2017, there was a whirlwind of activity and information ahead of a May event: the second annual celebration of National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day. I was immediately invited into a special group with an amazing focus on honoring those that became before us. As a 61-year-old lesbian it was inspiring, invigorating, motivating and just right. It began as a vision for a day that recognized and honored our […]

Sheltering in place during the Covid-19 pandemic has left many of us with time to think. As news outlets keep an anxious tally of each day’s deaths and new infections, it is natural to consider how well prepared we are for the unexpected. What would happen if I got sick? Who would have the right to take care of me? If the end came suddenly, how would my final arrangements be handled? Who would inherit my assets and settle my estate? These are difficult questions to grapple with under the best of circumstances. In the midst of a global health […]

While we are all dealing with isolation, social distancing, face coverings, not hugging or shaking hands and all the unusual things we are living with, I try to look if there can be some sort of a positive end result from this. Not for those whom we have lost, but for all those who live through this crisis, and survive to talk about it. Negativity exacerbates the stress of coping with daily life; if we cannot find some hope, some green shoot somewhere, it becomes a drudge to get through any challenging period. So the virus does not discriminate as […]

In my last column I told you all about some of the leather events that are currently happening virtually and some of the leather related resources that can be found online. (I didn’t even mention Pornhub!) Today I want to go old-school and tell you about some must-read books. I love looking at videos and reading information on websites, but nothing beats curling up with a good book. One of my first introductions into the leather scene was the classic novel Mr. Benson by John Preston. This 1980 work tells the story of a young man’s search for a master […]

It started two weeks before “D Day”, when I told my family I was going to transition on October 1, 2010, as a woman. I had no idea the response I was going to get from them, with their full support. I told my mother that my name would be Karen. Something she never told me before, that when she was pregnant with me if I were a girl, she would have name me Karen. She never told me that and I totally lost it with tears. What was good my family was accepting me for who I was deep […]

Charlotte, NC – Last month amid the COVID-19 outbreak, consumers in panic-driven stockpiling, wiped out store shelves and finding basic needs such as toilet paper (a hot commodity), rubbing alcohol, disinfectants, face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and other items have left shoppers having to either improvise with what they have or simply go without, all in an attempt to minimize the possibility of contracting COVID-19. But one clever computer whiz has thought outside the current parameters and has come up with a viable solution for those seeking products to purchase. Cleveland-based web developer, Chris Violette, 35, and his co-worker […]

April is Substance Abuse Awareness Month By Jason Martin LCPC, CPRP, NCC, ACS This April is Substance Abuse Awareness Month. The current COVID-19 crisis, with its anxiety-inducing headlines and fear of the unknown, is especially difficult for individuals using substances or recovering addicts. These situations can put recovering addicts at risk for relapse, or users at risk for an overdose. Now more than ever, we want to use this national awareness month as a rally point to educate the community about resources available for individuals struggling with substance use. Seek Professional Services There are a number of services available in […]

The pandemic quarantine has disrupted many lifestyle habits that help us maintain our health and fitness. However, now is not the time to succumb to the siren call of your couch and pantry! Unhealthy foods and minimal physical activity can quickly lead to weight gain and muscle loss. Be ready to look and feel your best by using your quarantine time to improve your overall health, beauty, and wellness. Here are some tips to help you avoid the “Quarantine 15” and develop healthy habits while stuck at home. Eat Well – Load up on natural, whole foods like fruits, veggies, […]

One month into social distancing, none of us is immune to the anxiety created by an unimaginable situation of fighting a powerful and threatening enemy that we cannot see or touch. So if you have found that you are having bizarre dreams, join the club! Whether you are single and live alone, or have a partner or other family, anxiety and depressive thoughts are now to be expected. What triggers anxiety? It is an automatic response, and not something we choose to bring on. It is the body and mind’s response to what is perceived as a threat to the […]

Everything is weird now. Ever since the world went on lockdown, it feels almost as though we are suspended in time. We don’t know when restrictions will be lifted or what the world will be like once they are. There are countless variables and, as we’ve been learning, the stakes are high. For many folks I’ve been talking to, there’s a feeling that we’ve reached a point where lockdown and social distancing is the new normal and not just temporary measures to keep us safe. The past is gone, and the future has yet to arrive; all we have is […]